Hair curler



y 1952 G. A. BROYLES ,6

HAIR CURLER Filed Oct. 1'7, 1950 Inventor Grace A. Bray/es @maafia M 3% it was not soft Patented July 29, 1952 ovarian. v 1Grace4A. iB1-.oyles, Kenosha, Wis. 'Applicatioii' bctober 17, 1950,,Scrial'No .'t'1'90,550

This invention relates to nevwarid useful 5 imziprovements and structural refinements in hair curlers, "particularly 'hair curlers of the type adapted to be women the hair-'after' having a lock of hair wound and secured thereon, the principal object of the invention being to provide ahair curler which combines features of comfort and convenience.

Of course, in hair-curlers of conventional type ,an effort was madeto achieve these features, but

such efforts were not successful si-ncethe features were present "independentlyrather than in combination. In other words,'i'f'the curler was-made soft enough for comfort, it was not sufficiently "-flrm to be d-u-rab le and conveniently practical. On the other hand, if the curler was made firm enough to be practically convenient, enough ito;b e comfortabiaparticularly whenslept on.

The instant invention, therefore, eliminates these disadvantages by providing a curler which is flrm yet comfortable, which is durable yet flexible and resilient and which, by virtue of these characteristics, is capable of automatically adjusting itself to the hair and head of the user, particularly when the latter changes position of her head during sleep, so that in effect, the soft, flexible and resilient nature of the curler is soothing and comforting and thereby inducive to sleep.

The above features are achieved primarily by embodying in the construction of the curler a cushion of what is commonly called air-foam or foam rubber, this being encased in thin plastic material, the foam rubber cushion together with its plastic enclosure being folded so as to provide a plurality of pads around which a strand of hair may be wound and thereafter secured by employing novel securing means.

Some other advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its moistureproof, sanitary nature, in its pleasing appearance which renders it adaptable for casual or sportswear as well as for use while sleeping, in its adaptability to economical manufacture and, above all, in its adaptability for convenient and expeditious use.

With the above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a group perspective view of the components of the invention;

I "elem-ms. (01. 132 -42) Figure f2 "Is an edge" View of the ha'ircurler in its cpenpo's'ition;

Figure *3 is a perspective view of 'thehai rrcurier in its closed position, the same being shownzapplied to astrand or hair; and

"Figure 4 is-atran's'verse' sectional-detail, taken substantially in th'e plane of the line 4-4i'n Figureii. 'Like character's of reference 1 are employedto designate likef arts i -n the l-spe'ci'flcation rand throughout the severalview-s,

' Referring new 'to the accompanying 'drawings in detail, the invention consists ofrahair' curler which is designated generally by the reference character lilw'and' embodies-in: its construction a lflexiblai're'silient strip 12" consisting of an elon- '-"gated cushion :of air-foam: rubber I 4' and a watermaterial which completely encloses the :cushion l4 and has free edges thereof suitably secured together, as exemplified at l8.

The strip I2 is folded in opposite directions along two transverse fold lines 20, 22 so as to afford continuous back, intermediate and front pads 24, 26 and 28, respectively, and the free end portion of the back pad 24 is secured as at 30 to the strip I2 at the fold line 22 between the intermediate pad 23 and the front pad 28, so that the pads 24, 2B constitute a pad unit 32 of double thickness, as is best shown in Figure 2.

The front pad 28, by virtue of the fold line 22, is swingable toward and away from the pad unit 32 so that a strand of hair 34 may be interposed between the pad unit 32 and the front pad 28 as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

A keeper element 36 comprises a tang 38 and an enlarged head 40 which is provided with an opening 42 and with an entrance slit 44 for this opening, as is best shown in Figure 1. This keeper element has the tang 38 thereof disposed in the free end portion of the back pad 24 between the cushion l4 and that portion of the plastic casing it which abuts the intermediate pad 26, so that the tang 38 is located substantially centrally in the pad unit 32 and is cushioned at both sides thereby, as illustrated in Figure 4.

The head 40 of the keeper element 36 projects outwardly from the back pad 24, as shown, and the tang is secured at 30.

A flexible elastic member 46 is provided with a loop 48 which is positioned on the strip l2 at the fold line 20 between the pads 24, 26, and the elastic member 46 is tied by a knot 50 to an ornamental bow 52 which also functions as a handle.

When the invention is placed in use, a strand of hair 34 is inserted between the pad member 32 and the front pad 28 and the front pad is closed upon the pad member as shown in Figure 4, whereupon the entire curler may be retated several times so as to wind the strand of hair around the same. Then, by grasping the bow 52 and stretching the elastic member 46 across the front of the front pad 28, the curler may be secured in position on the strand of hair, the elastic member 46 being inserted into description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may he resorted to Without departing from the spirit an scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: I

1. A hair curler comprising a flexible resilient strip folded in opposite directions along two transverse fold lines and providing a back pad, an intermediate pad and a front pad, a keeper element secured to and projecting longitudinally from the free end of the back pad, means securing the free end of the back pad to the strip at the fold line between the intermediate and front pads, whereby the back and intermediate pads constitute a pad unit of double thickness, and a flexible elastic member attached to said pad unit at the fold line between the back and intermediate pads, said member extending across the front of said front pad and being separably attached to said keeper element, whereby a strand of hairmay be sustained in position between the front pad and said pad unit.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said strip comprises an elongated cushion of foam rubber, and a waterproof casing of thin flexible sheet plastic material in which said cushion is disposed.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said keeper element comprises a tang disposed within said strip, and an enlarged outwardly projecting head provided on said tang, said head having an opening to receive said elastic member and an entrance slit for said opening, and a stop carried by said elastic member and engaging said head to prevent withdrawal of the elastic member from said opening.

GRACE A. BROYLES'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,422,716 Broyles June 24, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 332,989 Great Britain Aug. '7, 1930 

